Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

November 15, 2024

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Location:

Fort Collins,CO,

Member Since:

May 15, 2003

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

Unaided PR's:
5K: 14:48 (Track - 2001)
10K: 30:45 (Track - 2001)
10K: 31:32 (Bolder Boulder - 2013)
Half Marathon: 1:06:09 (Duluth - 2013)
Marathon: 2:17:54 (Grandma's) - 2014)
Marathon: 2:19:47 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2013)
Marathon: 2:19:49 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2010)

Aided PR's:
10K: 29:38 (Des News - 2011)
Half Marathon: 1:05:30 (TOU Half - 2011)
Marathon: 2:18:09 (St George - 2007)
Marathon: 2:17:35 (Boston - 2011)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in June of 2008. Started taking Enbrel in March, 2009.

Run as much as I can, and race as well as I can. Make the most of however much time I have left as an able-bodied runner.

Training for the 2018 Colorado Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

  Run until I'm old, and then run some more. Stand tall.

Personal:

1 wife, 2 kids. 1 cat. Work as a GIS Specialist/Map Geek

Endure and persist; this pain will turn to your good. - Ovid

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:1-5

 

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Trail Shoe Lifetime Miles: 247.50
Hoka Clifton Lifetime Miles: 491.50
Saucony Type A6 Lifetime Miles: 186.50
Saucony Zealot Lifetime Miles: 478.75
Saucony Kinvara 6 Lifetime Miles: 433.50
Saucony Kinvara 6-2 Lifetime Miles: 358.75
Brooks Pure Connect Blue Lifetime Miles: 337.25
New Balance Trainers Lifetime Miles: 314.50
New Balance 1400 Racers Lifetime Miles: 65.00
Brook Pureflow Lifetime Miles: 99.50
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
20.250.000.000.000.0020.25

This morning I had a breakfast/meeting in Smithfield at 8AM. Since it was supposed to be hot out today, I figured it would be best to run before the meeting, rather than after, but that meant getting up at 5AM, eating something, and then driving to the Smithfield Lions Club, parking, and running from there. Then I could show up at the meeting all sweaty, stinky, and hungry.

So I parked at the Lions, and then ran down to Mack Pack and began running up Canyon Road. Smithfield's version of Canyon Rd is much steeper than the Logan version. It seemed a bit steeper than Blacksmith Fork, but I could have just been tired from Thursday still. In any case, I averaged around 7:15/mile on the way up, and then turned around at the campground (where the pavement ends), which happened to be the 5-mile mark too. Found a nice bathroom to use at the campground as well.

Coming back down out of Smithfield canyon, it was finally light out, so I could enjoy the scenery, and could also enjoy the downhill. No traffic on this road, and a fair amount of other runners. Hit all the miles in the low-6's, despite not feeling great, which made me think that it is indeed steeper than BSF. Hit the 10-mile mark when I got back to Mack Park, but that meant that I still had 10 miles to go. So I decided to explore the city trail system of Smithfield. Figured I'd be spending a lot of time on them in the future, so probably a good idea.

Took the golden mile trail out of Mack, then linked up with the downtown Heritage trail through Central Park and then out to Forrester Acres (rec fields). Looped back on 100N, then north on 100 W, where I eventually found the North Canal Trail, which took me out of town along the canal. That trail terminated, so I came back into town, then ran all the way on 100 W back to 300 S, and decided to run up to our future house, since I would need to the practice. During this time, I kept the pace around 6:30-6:40/mile.

The problem with "living on the hill" is that you have to run up big hills, and this is no exception. 300S up to Dry Canyon is a bear, much easier in a car. But it was nice to see our new neighborhood on foot, which is how I prefer to view the world. I ran past our new house on 700E, and then hit up the canal trails on that end up town. Ran on the paved trail near 900 E (ie - Planet Walk II), down to 600S, then turned around and came back. Then crossed 300 S and hopped on the dirt canal trail northbound, until I was forced off near the golf course. At this point I was over 19 miles into the run, and really laboring, and pace dropped a lot. The hill up 300S, combined with lack of fitness, killed me. Stumbled down Summit Dr back to the Lions building, and called it good at 20.25 miles. Averaged 6:49/mile for the entire run. I was tired, but it felt satisfying to cover 20 miles in a single run again (had been two years). Plus I got a sneak peek of running in Smithfield, which I will be doing full time, once we move in two weeks.

Brooks Adrenaline 8 Blue Miles: 20.25
Comments
From redrooster on Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 22:08:45 from 71.219.123.203

have you run Smithfield health days before? that goes from Mack park right up the canyon, a tough first 2.6 or so miles. Then in the fall is the Smithfield turkey trot. That has a much worse climb, starting at Skyview High and running onto the bench. Of course, as a Smithfield resident you will be obligated to run those every year now. I like the Smithfield races and run both those when I can.

From paul on Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 22:10:20 from 75.162.111.162

No, I haven't ran those races, but I plan to start. Sounds like the Turkey Trot will be very near my house.

From Ashbaker on Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 22:16:04 from 76.27.0.45

Paul, It seems like your "out of shape" condition is the only time I can hang with you long enough in a race to chat!:)

From Jon on Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 23:08:04 from 75.169.140.152

That's how it is for me, too, Steve- I seem to have to be doing 90+ mile weeks while Paul is doing 50 with no speedwork for me to beat him.

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